In a groundbreaking achievement, NASA's Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) technology set a new record by transmitting a laser signal to the Psyche spacecraft, marking a significant leap in space communication.
The Psyche mission, launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida last October, is the first-ever U.S. mission dedicated to studying a metal-rich asteroid located in the remote main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Almost a year into its journey, the DSOC experiment successfully sent a laser signal from Earth to Psyche, which is now about 460 million kilometers away—the distance between Earth and Mars at their most distant points.
This milestone, achieved on July 29, concludes the first phase of the DSOC's operations and demonstrates the potential for laser-based communication in future space missions. According to NASA, lasers can transmit data at speeds up to 100 times faster than traditional radio frequencies, enabling the exchange of complex scientific data and high-definition imagery.
\"This success proves that we could one day relay data to and from Mars using lasers,\" said a NASA spokesperson. Such advancements are crucial for supporting humanity's next giant leap in space exploration, including future manned missions to Mars and beyond.
The Psyche spacecraft remains healthy and is steadily advancing toward its target asteroid, utilizing ion propulsion to navigate the vast distances of the main asteroid belt.
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NASA's tech sends laser signal to Mars' farthest distance from Earth
cgtn.com
